Causes and consequences of variability in larval connectivity

许多商业、受保护和入侵的海洋物种都有一个早期生命阶段，在此期间，洋流可以将幼虫分散到很远的地方，并将地理上不同地区的种群联系起来。这种幼虫的联系取决于多种生物和环境因素的复杂相互作用，这使得可靠地预测种群对气候变化和人类利用海洋的适应力或脆弱性具有挑战性。我的研究利用模型的力量来研究幼虫招募变异的原因和后果，并为决策者提供实用的定量建议。我还将培训下一代海洋生态系统科学家和管理人员如何使用建模来促进我们的生态理解和可持续管理海洋生物资源。

Many commercial, protected, and invasive marine species have an early life stage during which ocean currents can disperse larvae long distances and link populations in geographically distinct areas. This larval connectivity depends on the complex interaction of multiple biological and environmental factors, which makes it challenging to reliably predict a population's resilience or vulnerability to changing climate and human use of the ocean. My research exploits the power of models to examine the causes and consequences of variability in larval recruitment, and to provide decision-makers with practical quantitative advice. I will also train the next generation of marine ecosystem scientists and managers in ways to use modeling to advance our ecological understanding and sustainably manage living marine resources.